PATS NOTES: Wilfork avoids suspension

Thursday

Oct 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 30, 2008 at 12:16 PM

Glen Farley

Wilfork avoids suspension

It appears as though Vince Wilfork won’t be getting time off for bad behavior.

One day after taking a trip to New York to plead his case in front of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the New England Patriots nose tackle stood in front of his locker stall at Gillette Stadium and met the press.

Indications on Wednesday were that while Wilfork might be fined later this week (league fines are generally announced on Fridays) for his actions in the Patriots’ recent 41-7 romp over the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium, he will not be suspended.

“The meeting (with the commissioner) was productive,” said Wilfork. “I think both sides were happy. (He) got a chance … to hear my side of (the) story and how I approach the game.

“I got a chance to hear what he had to say about the whole situation of my past history and playing football and all that good stuff. I think we both left pretty happy.”

Wilfork appeared before Goodell after the Broncos’ coaching staff was reported to have sent film to the league showing the five-year veteran elbowing quarterback Jay Cutler in the helmet following a play in the teams’ Oct. 20 game.

“I play hard, and that’s one thing I stressed to him. I’m very passionate about the game,” said Wilfork. “Sometimes it might be too hard, and I told him that.

“We’ll go from here. I told him I'll try to change my style up a little bit, and hopefully, get a better slate. But right now, I got a pretty bad one out there.

“We hit some areas that needed to be touched on from his standpoint and my standpoint. We both listened to each other, and I think that was the main thing.”

Moss limited:

Wide receiver Randy Moss (foot) was limited in practice, while starting cornerback Ellis Hobbs (shoulder) was among the missing on Wednesday.

In addition to Hobbs, fellow corner Lewis Sanders (hamstring), linebacker Shawn Crable (shin) and running back Sammy Morris (knee) didn’t take part in the practice, which was held inside the Dana-Farber Field House.